H a b i t a t - Daily wildlife and environment news from the British Isles


Plants
Resources
The British Lichen Society The Woodland Trust Botanical Society of the British Isles Plantlife Flora locale Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Heritage Trees of Scotland The Postcode Plants Database Forestry Commission

Mild weather key to foxglove crop

Mild weather conditions during the past year have helped produce a bumper crop of foxgloves this summer, claim experts.

BBC

Orchids flower in wildlife plan

Five species of orchids are flowering in Luton thanks to a countryside conservation initiative.

BBC

Weeding out the alien invaders

The fight is on to repel the alien invaders of the plant world.

icSouthlondon

Nature notes

Red Clover is in flower everywhere in Europe, except in the High Arctic.

Times Online

Trust helps put colour in county

The Woodland Trust, the UK's leading woodland conservation charity, is predicting an awe-inspiring burst of colour from wild flowers at a wood in Cheshire.

icCheshireOnline

Focus on Woodland Biodiversity

A major programme of tree felling and thinning has been undertaken by the Forestry Commission as part of a shift in policy from economic gain to environmental concerns, and quality of life.

Country Life
Forestry Commission
English Nature
EDP24
Government News Network
BBC

Shrubs cleared from heathland

Conservation volunteers from Avon Outdoor Group and Southampton University spent a weekend on Exmoor clearing invasive rhododendron from coastal heathland above the South West Coast Path near Foreland Point, Lynton.

this is Cornwall


Birds
Resources
British Trust for Ornithology Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Birds Directive BirdGuides Bird News JNCC - Birds Natura 2000 Birds by Species Breeding Birds in the Wider Countryside Black Grouse UK Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust BirdLife International Fat Birder

Rare bird of prey is found poisoned in Highland forest

Police are investigating the poisoning of a rare bird of prey found dead in a Highland forest.

this is north scotland

Up close and quiet to see birds

Bird lovers have a unique opportunity to explore the upper stretches of the Tamar on a guided canoe trip taking place on Sunday July 3.

Okehampton Today

Rare bird captured on camera in Yorkshire

One of Britain's rarest and most secretive birds has been caught on camera for the first time at a Yorkshire reserve.

Yorkshire Post

We love Puffins

You don't have to be a dedi-cated birdwatcher to find puffins fascinating.

icWales

Welsh Ospreys chicks delight

The resident ospreys of North Wales have hatched two of their three eggs.

icWales

Anger on Gower over planning

Gower farmer Tom Beynon often faces a post-midnight dilemma on a busy summer day.

icWales

Estuarine 'zones' will protect birds

Clearly marked zones have been introduced at Hayle estuary in an attempt to enable birds and watersports enthusiasts to co-exist peacefully.

this is Cornwall


Animals
Resources
Mammal Society Mammals Trust UK The Deer Commission for Scotland Scottish Big Cat Trust Scottish Badgers International Otter Survival Fund Bat Conservation Trust National Federation of Badger Groups Froglife Herpetological Groups of Britain & Ireland Butterfly Conservation Butterflies of Ireland Spiders of NW-Europe British Dragonfly Society Buglife

Rare bug found at five new sites

A rare threatened beetle has been found in at least five new sites in East Anglia thanks to the public.

BBC

Blidworth man goes on trial for badger baiting

Blidworth man Stephen Tucker has gone on trial this week accused of digging a badger sett with his pet terrier.

Mansfield Today

If you've seen me, do tell Dan

When the bin lids go crashing around in the middle of the night, do you get up to look? And does the garbage gourmet in your garden ever turn out to be a fox?

this is southwales

Busy with Britain's rare bees

The nest itself was something that you would hardly notice - Claire had stumbled on it by chance a couple of days before.

icWales

The harlequin ladybird is the most invasive ladybird on Earth.
Now it's in Britain.
Help monitor its spread here


Marine
Resources
British Marine Life Study Society JNCC Fisheries Marine Conservation Society Marine Life Information Network for Britain and Ireland Shark Trust The European Register of Marine Species The UK Coastal Zone

WWF hopes Scottish fishing framework can become pan-European

WWF has welcomed the publication of the Scottish Executive's Sustainable Framework for Scottish Sea Fisheries with its vision of securing a sustainable and profitable future for the Scottish sea fishing industry.

Fishupdate.com
The Herald

Blair in pledge to simplify fisheries policy

Tony Blair has pledged to seek a simplification of the common fisheries policy during Britain's presidency of the European Union, and to rely more on fishermen's own estimation of fish stocks.

FT.com

Fishermen 'illegally taking salmon'

Irish fishermen have been accused of illegally catching wild salmon before it can reach Westcountry rivers to breed, damaging the region's ecosystem and economy.

this is Cornwall

Whale and Dolphin Weekend in Dingle

Dingle Marina Dive Centre is hosting a whale and dolphin weekend in association with IWDG on 1 - 3 July

Irish Whale and Dolphin Group


Climate
Resources
Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research Southampton Oceanography Centre Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Natural Environment Research Council UK Climate Impacts Programme Impacts of Climate Change on Wildlife ENN Special Reports: Climate Change Global Warming: Early warning signs

Blair backs MPs' climate campaign

The UK's three main political leaders have backed MPs launching an all-party Parliamentary group on climate change.

BBC

Working together in partnership with local authorities to combat climate change: Elliot Morley

Climate Change and Environment Minister Elliot Morley said today that the Government was looking at developing indicators based on the levels of carbon emissions within different areas.

Government News Network

WWF teams up with financial industry to tackle climate change

The financial industry needs to systematically screen climate change risks, according to a new report by the Allianz Group and WWF, which outlines specific steps for actions to better integrate risks from climate change into the insurance, banking, and asset management sectors.

WWF Newsroom

Global warming to raise storm damage costs-insurers

The cost of cleaning up storm damage will balloon unless the world takes urgent action to cut harmful emissions warming the globe, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) said on Wednesday.

Reuters

Warmer air may cause increased Antarctic sea ice cover

Predicted increases in precipitation due to warmer air temperatures from greenhouse gas emissions may actually increase sea ice volume in the Antarctic's Southern Ocean.

EurekAlert

Charles D. Keeling

Dave Keeling was one of the world’s leading authorities on climate change.

Times Online

'Springwatch' presenter Oddie to host 'Wild Autumn' on effects of climate change in UK

The BBC hopes to repeat the surprise success of its Springwatch wildlife show, which monitored seasonal change, with a new programme reporting on the first signs of autumn.

Independent

Help produce a forecast of the climate in the 21st century, using your computer -
here


National/Europe
Resources
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group Natural Environment Research Council Minerals and Nature Conservation Forum The Wildlife Trusts Wildlife and Countryside Link British Naturalists' Association EnvironmentJobs

Cost of nuclear 'underestimated'

The cost of new nuclear power has been underestimated by a factor of three, according to a British think tank.

BBC

Micro-power hailed as cheap, safe energy of future

Renewable power, particularly schemes where thousands of homes have their own microgenerators for heat and electricity, are a far cheaper way of meeting the UK's energy needs and combating climate change than nuclear stations, says a report out today.

The Guardian

Europe can reach a low emissions future

The European Environment Agency in Copenhagen has identified pathways to achieve Europe's contribution to a global climate change target.

European Environment Agency

Welfare laws "failing" animals

A major new animal welfare report published today has concluded that some UK and EU legislation is failing to protect the world’s wildlife.

Scotsman.com

Naturenet
Countryside management and nature conservation
- here


England
Resources
English Nature Countryside Agency Environment Agency Campaign for the Protection of Rural England

Restoring the glory of waterworld

The Fens are coming back. Southern England's long-lost great wetland is to be recreated on a massive scale by several huge restoration projects which will turn farmland into watery wilderness.

Independent

Bait gathering threatens wildlife

Wildlife experts are warning illegal bait and shellfish gathering on the Teesside coast is endangering bird and seal colonies in the area.

BBC

Tsunami danger warning on coast

The South Devon coast could be hit by a devastating tsunami tidal wave, according to a Government report.

this is South Devon

Wildlife trust head is quitting

The head of the Isles of Scilly conservation body - the Wildlife Trust - is shortly to stand down after what he calls six year's of "fairly concentrated work".

this is Cornwall

Homes plans steer clear of badger setts

The applicant for Ilminster's controversial supermarket development has put in a new bid for 33 homes on land off Shudrick Lane.

this is the West Country

Big golf hitters score £4,000 for Devon's birdies

Eighty golfers did it for the birdies - not one under par - but the real thing. And it went with such a swing that the Devon Wildlife Trust benefited to the tune of £4,000.

this is South Devon

Dangerous algae on Windermere

Visitors to Windermere in the Lake District are being warned to stay out of the water because of potentially toxic algae.

The Cumberland News

Step into this magical, Ice Age land, but don’t touch the Bambis

One of Thirlmere’s western side attractions is Launchy Gill, a forest trail about halfway along the lake.

The Cumberland News


Wales
Resources
Welsh Assembly Countryside Council for Wales Wales Biodiversity Partnership Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales Environment Agency (Wales)

Halt this threat to peninsula

Pleas to relax Gower's tough planning rules are a threat to the future of this haven for wildlife and unique scenery.

this is southwales
icWales

Dunes wrecked claim at marina

Green campaigners have accused Swansea Point developers of destroying sand dunes near the marina. They claim bulldozers have gone off-limits onto the city's public foreshore.

this is southwales

Wildlife fear over Wales air travel subsidy

A birds charity is supporting moves to halt a National Assembly plan to subsidise air travel in Wales.

icNorthWales

Target to save forest nearer reach

Public response to the Save Wentwood Forest appeal has been overwhelming, says Coed Cadw, the Welsh arm of the UK's leading woodland conservation charity.

icWales

Landfill victory not end of war

A campaign to stop rubbish being tipped at a quarry will continue, despite yesterday's surprise legal victory.

icNorthWales

N.Wales in 2205 - and no Anglesey

Experts yesterday unveiled a global warming Doomsday map revealing vast parts of North Wales under the sea.

icNorthWales


Scotland
Resources
Scottish Natural Heritage Scottish Environment Protection Agency Scottish Biodiversity Group Scotland's National Nature Reserves John Muir Trust Scottish Environment News Scottish Wildlife Trust Red Squirrels In South Scotland

Dalzell Estate to be restored with Lotto cash

Lanarkshire’s hidden gem, The Dalzell Estate, is to be returned to its former glory and reopened thanks to an £879,000 Heritage Lottery Fund.

icLanarkshire

Last chance to join the fun on the Isle of May

The Isle of May National Nature Reserve at the entrance to the Firth of Forth is keen to welcome visitors to see the beauty and wildlife of the area.

Scottish Natural Heritage

Planning reforms to be revealed

Scotland's planning laws are up for reform as Scottish Executive proposals get set to go before parliament.

BBC


Ireland
Resources
Environment & Heritage Service (Northern Ireland) Northern Ireland Biodiversity Group National Parks and Wildlife Service Ireland's Environment All-Ireland review of introduced species

Plankton killing fish and shellfish

A 'red tide' of algal bloom has been reported to be killing pacific oysters, cockles and lugworms along the west and northwest coast of Ireland, the Marine Institute reported yesterday.

Irish Independent

Massive floods on the way, scientists warn

Ireland faces mass flooding as a result of rising sea levels due to climate change, the country's leading climate scientist predicted yesterday.

Irish Independent


Global
Resources
IUCN - World Conservation Union Convention on Biological Diversity WWF - The global environment network World Land Trust

New frogs found in Sri Lanka but many species extinct

Sri Lankan biologists have found dozens of new species of tree frog over the last decade in the island's dwindling rainforests, but warn many known species are either extinct or on the verge of disappearing because of man.

Reuters

Grizzly bear-size catfish caught in Thailand

Nearly nine feet long (2.7 meters) and as big as a grizzly bear, a huge catfish caught in northern Thailand may be the largest freshwater fish ever recorded.

National Geographic News

More birds flock to U Minh Thuong National Park

The number of birds flocking to the wetland of U Minh Thuong National Park in southern Kien Giang province has been increasing remarkedly, turning the park into a bird santuary in the Mekong delta.

Vnanet

Tortoise thieves running amok on Zanzibar

Thieves are taking advantage of lax security and the docile nature of giant Aldabra tortoises to purloin growing numbers of the protected reptiles from Zanzibar's Changu Island, a senior official said on Tuesday.

IOL

Shark finning banned in Eastern Pacific Ocean

An international ban on shark finning in the Eastern Pacific Ocean was approved by consensus Monday by an intergovernmental fisheries management body meeting in Lanzarote.

Environment News Service

A close shave for Switzerland's bearded vulture

The black kites that swarm over Switzerland's Lake Geneva are a dime a dozen. Sadly, the same can’t be said for a fellow raptor on the other side of the country that has come close to the brink of extinction.

WWF Newsroom

"Shameful" inaction on ecosystems threatens MDGs

The United Nations Secretary-General has again emphasised that environmental degradation could jeopardise the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Birdlife International

The World Land Trust is a conservation charity that has helped purchase and protect over 300,000 acres of rainforest and other threatened wildlife habitats worldwide. You can help us save even more - here

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Daily wildlife and environment news from the British Isles